The European Union (EU) is set to sponsor a young Nigerian fashion designer, Oyindamola Aleshinloye, to 2023 Madrid Fashion week holding in September.
READ MORE:African Fashion Week kicks off
This is her prize for winning the 2023 Europe Day Afro-Euro Runway fashion show held in Abuja, Nigeria.
Oyindamola Aleshinloye, with the brand name “Kadiju” would be in Madrid being the winner of the maiden edition of the Fashion Show organised by EU.
Aleshinloye was declared winner from among the seven finalists who had emerged from 124 young Nigerian designers who sent in their entries.
According to the judges, the winner was picked using the five components of the theme of the competition, namely: Interpretation of Afro-Euro fusion; Creativity; Execution; Cohesiveness and Presentation; and Story-telling.
Samira Mohammed best known as Sultana came second, Oluchi George best known as Malite was 3rd; and Happiness Miwori best known as Jasmineafrik came 4th.
The first runner-up will participate in the Dakar (Senegal) Fashion Week in December, while the second and third runners up received fashion-designing equipment.
All contestants will be sponsored to attend business management training.
Speaking earlier, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and West Africa, Ms. Samuela Isopi, said that the Afro-Euro initiative had identified talents.
According to her, fashion is the culture and innovation is needed in the fashion industry.
“2023 is the European year of skills. So this will bring about skills and innovation in the fashion industry for young people,” she said.
She added that the fashion runway showcased both African and European designs which have promoted both continents’ cultural and fashion diversity.
The maiden edition of the Afro-Euro Runway, a fashion competition was organised by the European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria, in collaboration with some of its Member States in Nigeria and the Fashion Academy, Abuja.
The show is aimed at harnessing the vast potentials of Nigeria’s vibrant fashion industry to drive skills development, youth employment and economic prosperity.
The European Union has been working to give more space to the youth in its partnership with Nigeria.
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